We can all still remember the sights and smells of the old bait shops. Very few are still around. WallyWorld, Bass pro, Cabela's, and the others, shuttered them. I like to throw my business to the small guys when ever I am going fishing. I always plan to stop by the local shop.
As a kid in the 70's I sold nightcrawlers to Beech Grove Bait shop. The one near Emerson and Main. There was one on Albany near the bowling alley. Smitty's, Pete's, and Martins up on the Tippy. I remember one on the winding road down to Monroe, before they built the new 446. West Side is gone. Fish'n Shedd is still there, near Paintown. Norway B and T may still be north of Freeman. There was/maybe is one about halfway between Indy and Raccoon. Bruce's down near Linton. Miner's is gone. 4-way might still be there. I remember a nice little shop down by Monroe Dam where I could also get a sandwich. I really dig Honey Creek down near Bargersville. I had been in a nice one, seems like up along the river in Noblesville.
I know I'm missing lots that I can't bring to mind right now. I still spend Money at the Fish'n Shedd whenever I pass, year round. I always enjoyed talking with Dick before he died. Most often stop by Honey Creek when passing. The one I miss most of all is Martin's Crawl Farm. I couldn't wait to pass the slam'n screen door several times each Summer. After Martin died and they shut down, I was in line with fishing tackle at Wally World. To my surprise, Mrs. Martin was minding the register. I was glad to see her, but it was a sad testament to the times. I still have a poster that Martin's passed out. It simply states something like "Profanity is a feeble attempt of a simple mind trying to express itself forcefully" I think they were church people. She looked Pentecostal.
Anyway.......post some stories or locations of the shops you miss, or the ones we can all help to stay alive. I will go out of my way to spend money with the little guy. I'd pay top dollar for a couple dozen fresh, live, Craws in the summer.
As a kid in the 70's I sold nightcrawlers to Beech Grove Bait shop. The one near Emerson and Main. There was one on Albany near the bowling alley. Smitty's, Pete's, and Martins up on the Tippy. I remember one on the winding road down to Monroe, before they built the new 446. West Side is gone. Fish'n Shedd is still there, near Paintown. Norway B and T may still be north of Freeman. There was/maybe is one about halfway between Indy and Raccoon. Bruce's down near Linton. Miner's is gone. 4-way might still be there. I remember a nice little shop down by Monroe Dam where I could also get a sandwich. I really dig Honey Creek down near Bargersville. I had been in a nice one, seems like up along the river in Noblesville.
I know I'm missing lots that I can't bring to mind right now. I still spend Money at the Fish'n Shedd whenever I pass, year round. I always enjoyed talking with Dick before he died. Most often stop by Honey Creek when passing. The one I miss most of all is Martin's Crawl Farm. I couldn't wait to pass the slam'n screen door several times each Summer. After Martin died and they shut down, I was in line with fishing tackle at Wally World. To my surprise, Mrs. Martin was minding the register. I was glad to see her, but it was a sad testament to the times. I still have a poster that Martin's passed out. It simply states something like "Profanity is a feeble attempt of a simple mind trying to express itself forcefully" I think they were church people. She looked Pentecostal.
Anyway.......post some stories or locations of the shops you miss, or the ones we can all help to stay alive. I will go out of my way to spend money with the little guy. I'd pay top dollar for a couple dozen fresh, live, Craws in the summer.
yyyy too much time reminiscing about the good old days and the trouble we used get in to.
